Yes! I did it!

But it's only temporary!

My header, that is!

As Rachaeldaisy has officially taken possession of my header,

I have made a change!

But I'm not happy with it, so you'll need to keep coming back to see what else I 

can come up with!

In the meantime, look at what has ended up in my mail box recently....

A pretty hexie flower....

Look at that fussy cutting!

And sweet scissors charm from Melody @ A House on the Side of the Hill blog,

With it's silver teddy bear!

Mel makes the prettiest little hexies!

And from Frances @ Quilting Owl

A beautiful diary, a fabulous new ruler and some paper pieces for a cute little pin cushion!

All wrapped up in a lovely piece of French General fabric!

You are very generous ladies!

Thank you!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Starting with a....

finish!

I was determined to start the year the way I intend to continue!

And finishing some UFO's is one of my priorities!

My "Pies and Tarts" flimsy 

(this is a new word to me, apparently it is the quilt top?)

has been on my Flick'r photostream for nearly 2 years!

The circles are English Paper Pieced and appliqued to 8" background squares....

Yesterday this is what I achieved!

I straight line quilted in the seams of the background pieces and then 


diagonally...

I even 'fussy cut' some pieces!

I had a fabric someone gifted me in a swap which worked perfectly for binding!

And a pretty vintage style floral for the back..

It's not perfect, but that's ok!

It's not a big one- 48" X 64".....


But still good snuggling size!

This aqua and orange pie is one of my favourites!

I'm calling this quilt "Rainbow Pie".

It is great to start the year with a finish!


Happy sewing!


SUZ

Out with the Old, In with the New!

One last quick post before we say goodbye to 2011!

Here is a mosaic of some of my "small makes" for this year...

I'm thinking I need some more colour in my life...

Can one use TOO much red?!

And another mosaic of my quilts, both big, mini and some in between....

There is a little more colour variation here!

Of course I have a number of WIPS leftover from previous years....

including my latest one!


Best wishes to all my friends, followers and those loitering in the background!

It's been fun getting to many of you better!


See you in 2012 with more patchwork and play!

SUZ

One Last Finish...

for 2011!

A friend will become a grandmother for the first time soon!

As it has been on my 'to-do' list for quite some time,

I didn't need another excuse to make this.....

This is a Denyse Schmidt free pattern, available here!

The patchwork was the easy part!

The rest.....Well,

I'm not sure I'd make another one!

Although he is pretty cute, isn't he?

Oh, I did some fabric shopping today too!

But I will leave that until another time!

Happy days!

SUZ

Interlude...

I love the period between Christmas and New Year!

Our simply set Christmas table!

The frenzy of THE season is over...

Mooching around.....

Even Santa is 'kicking back'!

A new year holds such great promise....

And making plans....

Time to do, whatever!

#4 Basket Weave

Like just one FW block!

Happy days!

SUZ

Merry Christmas!

Some last minute making....

in the kitchen!

This is a favourite recipe from my childhood with a little modern twist,

and it's called "White Christmas"!

And what would Christmas be without homemade shortbread....

Yum!

And here are a couple of my favourite Christmas decorations

 from years past...

And one last stocking stuffer- a tissue cosy cover !

And I will leave you with my favourite Christmas Carol by one of 


my favourite singers, Eva Cassidy.

(Apologies for the advertising!)

Merry Christmas everyone!

SUZ

Christmas Gift Making

I have been busy getting some last minute gifts completed!

My sister decided she wanted a pyramid door stop...

Firstly, I made myself one as a prototype......

It's filled with rice and dried lavender!

And then I made a slightly larger one for Helen....

I lined this one to make it more sturdy!

Then, yesterday, I whipped up a journal cover for a friend using this tutorial...

And finally, this was 'adapted' from a printed hoop I saw in "Typo" recently!

The heart is a little wonky, naive perhaps.....

I may still add some blanket stitch around the letters and 


 running stitch around the outside edge?

This might, also, be my next giveaway....


Interested?


Happy days!

SUZ

Christmas Arrived Early...

in my home!

Look at the pretty wrapping!

But more excitingly, this was nestled inside one package...

Oooh..my toes! How did that happen?

 An amazing quilt in my favourite colours of red and aqua,

 See the blocks with the sweetest little bow ties in the corners!

And the fabulous French fabric... 

And will you look at the Spring garden on the back!

With its hand embroidered label!

All fantastically hand quilted by my dear friend Mary!

It has brought back many fond memories of my holidays in Paris...

And will make me think of my special friend every day!

Can you tell I love everything about my beautiful new quilt!

Words don't seem enough!

Oh, I almost forgot!

 This sweet tea towel was in the other package....

from Anthropologie! 

- but I don't think any dirty dishes will be coming anywhere near this

any time soon  

ever!

Thank you again Mary, I will treasure my early Christmas present, always!

Happy days indeed!

SUZ

And the WInner is....

Thank you to all my followers, and those who just popped in for a look, 

who visited during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day (week)!

I loved reading your answers.....

Exotic things like Macaroons, Les Miserables and Amelie!

Or the everyday ones relating to pastries and coffee!

I could have given away my mini quilt countless times and wish I could send 


something to so many of you!

But there can be only one winner....

RACHAELDAISY!

Her answer really resonated with me, especially as it had 

things that I hadn't heard of, 

things I'd like to do again 

AND things I can only dream of!

Rachael your mini quilt will soon be on its way!

And because I can't do a post without a photograph....

I have finally cut into my "Sherbet Pips" stash!

Better late than never, hey!

Happy days!

SUZ

Lost to the Great Outdoors?

After a  "Century of Progress"

Denyse was the "Prairie Queen"

riding the "Railroad"

over "Hill and Valley"!

Has the Farmer's Wife been lost to the great outdoors?

Or maybe Paris?

You'll have to come back to find out...

won't you?


(And you still have time to enter my giveaway!)

SUZ

I've Lost My Head!

Despite Protests of "How could you?!" and "NO!!" 

 I have not changed my mind!

My header is being given away!

I have just completed the hand quilting on this mini quilt (measuring 19 inches 

square) and it's ready to go....

Pretty binding and a simply pieced back....

I used Auriful variegated cotton thread to quilt it....

And it is looking for a new and loving home!

So this giveaway will NOT be playing host to Mr Random Generator!

You will need to think of a creative answer to this question.....

"Where, in Paris, would like to go (or somewhere you have been) and why do you want to go there?

Simple, huh!

Many of my regular followers will know of my love of France, especially Paris, so give me some other great reasons to go back!

I will choose my favourite answer sometime on Saturday 17th December and mail my your header quilt away before Christmas!

Happy Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!

SUZ